BENWELL MAN BARHAM HUSSEIN SENTENCED FOR GROOMING A 14-YEAR-OLD ON BADDOO IN NEWCASTLE
| Red Rose Database
Benwell Sexual Abuser
In October 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving a man from Benwell who was caught attempting to meet a young girl for sexual activity after engaging in online conversations. The incident was brought to light when an undercover police officer, operating under the guise of a teenage girl on the popular dating app Badoo, successfully identified and apprehended the suspect.
Barham Hussein, a 21-year-old asylum seeker residing in Newcastle’s West End after relocating from Iraq in 2014, became the focus of this investigation. He believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, but in reality, he was messaging an officer using a fictitious profile named Needay. Over the course of seven days, Hussein engaged in a series of conversations with this undercover persona, during which he expressed a desire to meet and explicitly discussed sexual intentions.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Hussein’s interactions with the undercover officer began on January 27 of the previous year. The officer, using the alias Needay, received a simple message at 1:48 pm that read “Hey,” which was sent by Hussein, who provided his name as Bar. Following this initial contact, Hussein sent a subsequent message asking if Needay was okay. However, by that time, the officer had logged off duty and was unable to respond.
Over the next week, there were seven days of contact between Hussein and the undercover profile. During these exchanges, Hussein repeatedly asked the fictitious girl to visit his home, providing his address, and inquired about her age despite the profile clearly indicating she was 14. When Needay confirmed her age, Hussein responded with a comment suggesting he was aware she was young but still wanted to have a good time together. Prosecutors highlighted that Hussein’s messages included requests for her to send photos, his mobile number for direct communication, and affectionate terms such as “Baby” and kisses at the end of messages.
Throughout the conversations, Hussein’s intentions became increasingly explicit, and he made it clear he wanted to meet in person for sexual activity. Once the police became aware of his actions, they launched an investigation, leading to his arrest. During police interviews, Hussein denied any wrongdoing and initially pleaded not guilty to attempting to meet a girl following grooming. However, he later changed his plea to guilty.
Judge Robert Adams sentenced Hussein to 13 months in prison, emphasizing that the evidence left no doubt about his awareness of the girl’s age. The judge stated, “The profile made it clear from the outset the child was 14. At no stage were you misled about her age. You had the assistance of a translator, and worryingly, you have no insight or empathy with the person who could have been the victim.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Hussein was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration, reflecting the serious nature of his actions and the potential risk posed to the community.
Barham Hussein, a 21-year-old asylum seeker residing in Newcastle’s West End after relocating from Iraq in 2014, became the focus of this investigation. He believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, but in reality, he was messaging an officer using a fictitious profile named Needay. Over the course of seven days, Hussein engaged in a series of conversations with this undercover persona, during which he expressed a desire to meet and explicitly discussed sexual intentions.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Hussein’s interactions with the undercover officer began on January 27 of the previous year. The officer, using the alias Needay, received a simple message at 1:48 pm that read “Hey,” which was sent by Hussein, who provided his name as Bar. Following this initial contact, Hussein sent a subsequent message asking if Needay was okay. However, by that time, the officer had logged off duty and was unable to respond.
Over the next week, there were seven days of contact between Hussein and the undercover profile. During these exchanges, Hussein repeatedly asked the fictitious girl to visit his home, providing his address, and inquired about her age despite the profile clearly indicating she was 14. When Needay confirmed her age, Hussein responded with a comment suggesting he was aware she was young but still wanted to have a good time together. Prosecutors highlighted that Hussein’s messages included requests for her to send photos, his mobile number for direct communication, and affectionate terms such as “Baby” and kisses at the end of messages.
Throughout the conversations, Hussein’s intentions became increasingly explicit, and he made it clear he wanted to meet in person for sexual activity. Once the police became aware of his actions, they launched an investigation, leading to his arrest. During police interviews, Hussein denied any wrongdoing and initially pleaded not guilty to attempting to meet a girl following grooming. However, he later changed his plea to guilty.
Judge Robert Adams sentenced Hussein to 13 months in prison, emphasizing that the evidence left no doubt about his awareness of the girl’s age. The judge stated, “The profile made it clear from the outset the child was 14. At no stage were you misled about her age. You had the assistance of a translator, and worryingly, you have no insight or empathy with the person who could have been the victim.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Hussein was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration, reflecting the serious nature of his actions and the potential risk posed to the community.